Sony is increasing PS5 console shipments to the United States in a bid to save on pending tariffs that would cost more to bring electronics into the country. Though there have been no new tariffs officially imposed as yet, Sony is being cautious and building inventories to safeguard sales and eschew higher prices in the short run.
The PlayStation 5 is still Sony’s profit driver, and something that it wants to maintain. Over the 2024 holiday season, Sony shifted a record 9.5 million units of the PS5, 1.3 million more than it did last year—a performance clearly inspired by the availability of the PS5 Pro. With this success, Sony doesn’t want tariff-fueled higher costs to slow demand.
On its Q3 FY 2024 earnings call, Sony described how it is addressing the impact of possible tariffs. Sony has been stockpiling inventory in the U.S. and replicating some supply chain functions to keep itself nimble. By doing so, Sony ensures that in case import tariffs actually occur, its gaming segment—under its Game & Network Services segment—does not bear much impact.
Would the PS5 Pro be $1,000?
Uncertainty over U.S. trade policy has created a prediction that the PS5 Pro might experience price hikes, and some have gone as far as predicting that it might even hit $1,000 if tariffs are added. Sony’s strategy, though, is to avoid this risk by ensuring sufficient supply in the U.S. prior to any cost hike taking effect.
Sony is not alone among gaming giants preparing itself for possible trade restrictions. Nintendo has also moved ahead of this, stating that it expects to have minimal impact on the pricing of the Switch 2 due to adjustments to its production and supply chain.
The full extent of the effect of possible U.S. tariffs on the gaming market is unclear. Retailing behemoths such as Walmart have cautioned that high tariffs would result in price hikes for everything from gaming systems to a variety of other items. Sony’s and Nintendo’s early planning, though, can potentially maintain prices stable for consumers—at least in the short term.
Meanwhile, PlayStation enthusiasts need not worry that Sony is not doing its part to make PS5 and PS5 Pro available even in the face of a looming specter over international trade policies.
